Back to Work: Employer Financial Incentives

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A decision made on 30 October 2020

Decision Reference: MD-S-2020-0069
Decision Summary Title :	Back to Work employer financial incentives		Date of Decision Summary:	27 October 2020
Decision Summary Author:	Business Hub Team Manager		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Back to Work employer financial incentives		Date of Written Report:	27 October 2020
Written Report Author:	Business Hub Team Manager		Written Report: Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Back to Work employer financial incentives
Decision(s): The Minister approved the non-statutory Back to Work financial incentive schemes, Employment Incentive and Paid Training, for 2020 and 2021. This will provide financial support to employers in recruiting locally qualified jobseekers in target groups.
Reason(s) for Decision: The overall principles of all Back to Work financial incentives is to facilitate the employment of jobseekers who are the furthest from securing employment in the open market. The key elements of the financial incentives are summarised below: 1. Employers can only claim up to a maximum fixed amount per incentive, paid in arrears, upon evidence that the employee has been paid and has worked the required hours 2. Back to Work will provide 6 months in work support for both the employer and employee 3. Specific eligibility criteria, namely a period of long-term unemployment or lack of industry experience/training, is in place for all incentives to ensure Back to Work continues to provide support to those who require the most help to get back into work Full details of each of the current schemes are included in the accompanying guidelines.
Resource Implications: Funding will be provided from the existing budget held by the Customer and Local Services Department for Back to Work.
Action required: Group Director, Customer and Local Services to run the incentive schemes.
Signature:		Position: Social Security Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):